No doubt now that your business is up and running, you want to start promoting it… But where, exactly, do you start? Right here.
Promoting a new business can seem like a huge task if you don’t know exactly where to begin. Luckily, we’ve gathered some of the best hints and tips for new business owners – read on to find out more…
Know your elevator pitch
It’s an oldie but a goodie – and it doesn’t cost you a cent. Being able to confidently and easily talk about your business in a few sentences may open doors for you in the unlikeliest of places. Bear in mind, though, that an elevator pitch isn’t a sales pitch – it’s simply a pithy, effective explanation of why your company is amazing.
Learn the fine art of networking
And it is a fine art. Networking – in real life and online – can reap enormous rewards if you know how to do it properly. It takes time and it’s by no means a quick fix, but proper networking can build a client and colleague base that will last for years.
Give a taster
This obviously depends on what kind of product or offering your business is involved in, but if there’s any way to let people have a taste of what you offer for free, give it away. Being able to experience something before you buy it is almost a given in today’s society, so if you can wow potential customers with a teaser, you’ll be more likely to keep them as future customers.
Build relationships
No matter how technological the world we live in has become, people still ask their friends for recommendations – even if those friends are now online and not sitting across from them at the table. So you need to build relationships with your current customers and give them an exceptional experience. Being pleasantly surprised by a brand and having an unexpectedly wonderful experience is still enough of a novelty to get people talking… Make sure they’re talking about you.
Ensure brand synergy
It’s all very well having a killer elevator pitch, great word of mouth, superb networking skills and a fabulous teaser of your brand, but if your website looks homemade and your email bounces back, you’re not going to get any new business. Make sure your brand identity carries through – from your business cards to your online presence, your website and all your communication tools (email, Skype, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter etc.) A professional brand image makes all the difference.
Promoting a new business doesn’t have to be an expensive, exhausting exercise. It can be as simple as following these tips… do you have any to add?